physical therapy graduate school personal statement

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How Do I Write My PTCAS Essay (Personal Statement)?

The PT School application process is challenging, to say the least. But, it’s incredibly rewarding, because at the end of this process you’ll be on your way to starting your career and getting your dream job as a physical therapist.

One of the most important parts of the PT School application process is the personal statement , or the essay . Each year, the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service ( PTCAS ) sets a specific prompt for the personal statement. This personal statement is submitted to every school to which you apply. In short, it’s a chance for you to set yourself apart from the other applicants. So, how do you write your PTCAS essay ? Let’s dive in to learn more about this part of the application process, and learn more about our services to help you with your personal statement here !

What is a Personal Statement?

A Personal Statement is an essay that explains your background and allows you to describe yourself. It’s a common requirement for graduate schools and jobs, so it’s especially important for you to use the personal statement to explain why you want to pursue this opportunity.

A Personal Statement can be a general description of yourself or it can answer a specific prompt . It’s common for graduate schools to ask specific questions for the Personal Statement.¹ In this case, the Personal Statement is a chance for you to show the admissions committee who you are beyond the data in your application . In an essay format, you can expand upon your character, goals, and background, allowing the admissions committee to get to know you.

What Should I Know About a Physical Therapy Personal Statement?

PTCAS Personal Statement prompts can vary in topics, but ultimately they touch on the physical therapy profession. It’s important that you answer the PTCAS question in your essay. But you should also view this as an opportunity to describe yourself to the admissions committees. Keep in mind that these committees are reviewing hundreds, or even thousands, of applications each year. Use this opportunity to set yourself apart .

In your essay, you should explain why you want to become a physical therapist, but try to avoid using a common reason such as “I want to help people.” Show the admissions committee your passion for physical therapy and prove to them why you belong in physical therapy school and why you’re going to become a great physical therapist.

Above all, remember that through the 4,500 characters in your essay, you’re not just telling the admissions committees who you are… you’re showing them.

Lab P. The Personal Statement // Purdue Writing Lab. Purdue Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/job_search_writing/preparing_an_application/writing_the_personal_statement/index.html. Published 2020. Accessed July 26, 2020.

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Physical Therapy Personal Statement Examples

Your physiotherapy personal statement is the most important element of your university application. It is usually the factor that universities consider when deciding whether or not they should admit you to their school. We’ll show you some physical therapy personal statement examples in this article!

Your physical therapy personal statement should demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject and why you would have been such a valuable member of their university community.

We propose that you browse over some previous Physiotherapy personal statement examples for inspiration when you begin writing your own.

physical therapy essay examples

physical therapy graduate school personal statement

Below are some physical therapy personal statement examples . These examples will allow you to see what shape and tone you require, as well as what colleges are searching for in general.

It’s Good To Know: Candidate Statement Sample

When I was a kid, I first heard the term “ physical therapy .”

My older cousin suffered from a brain aneurysm and then had to walk properly again through therapy. I had no idea what the science or profession was that was underlying the work. My only knowledge was that my relative was gradually recovering. Years later, I’m ready to turn that magic into a job. Helping people makes me think I’m getting the most out of life, thus I want to become a physical therapist. I’d like to leave a legacy of inspiration behind.

I remember working as a health coach and have had the pleasure of inspiring people to make positive changes in their lives. I also picked physical therapy as a career option since I am motivated by the desire to help people. As a volunteer at Camp Camp, I help physically challenged youngsters to access outdoor activities that were previously unavailable to them. I assist these children in making what appears to them to be unattainable a reality. Physical therapy strikes me as particularly related to the patient population.

I would like to be a guide again for the future and a healer for the past, as well as a solution to a single problem. I can’t imagine another career that will give me the foundation to make such a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Since my enthusiasm for the field, I believe I should be accepted into a physical therapy program.

Physical therapy is more than just a simple professional choice for me. It has forced me to overcome numerous challenges. My Bachelor of Science from the University of Denver was a huge milestone for me to be the first of three children to receive a college diploma. During my academic years, I majored in Electrical Engineering. It was a major that I believed would lead to a prominent job and one that my family would be proud of. However, I quickly discovered that Electrical Engineering was not my passion.

It required a lot of courage for me to abandon a career path that might have led to success. Volunteering allowed me to do some soul-searching. At this point, I decided to change my major to Kinesiology and start a new profession. I’ve given it a lot of thought before making this decision. Other employment possibilities have not only occurred to me, but I have also pursued them. Still, I return to my original plan of pursuing a career in physical therapy. I am certain that I will succeed in this program. I would bring my determination, motivation, and personality to every element of the program if accepted.

Food Habit Paragraph

I’ll continue to do well in my subjects academically. My volunteer work will be integrated into my whole experience so that I may bring that motivation to the curriculum. I’ll draw inspiration from my life experiences and family to push myself even harder. I intend to communicate with peers to obtain a better understanding of other facets of this profession while also sharing my own story. Finally, I will accomplish all of these goals in collaboration with a group of academics and students.

I am committed to achieving success in a career that I like every day. I didn’t understand it could be a future career when my cousin used physical therapy to learn to walk again when I was a kid. It seemed more mystical to me; an incomprehensible occurrence that altered someone’s life. Even though I now have a much more mature perspective on the events of my childhood and am aware of the science underlying the phenomenon. I still get a sense of magic when I think about how far I’ve come and where I’m going. I’m fortunate to have discovered a career that motivates me to get out of bed every day and do something positive.

You can use this sample as a physical therapy assistant personal statement. But never copy-paste it.

My parents have had a vision of the career they need me to get when I grow up since I was a toddler. They encouraged me to forge my path to a better future and placed great expectations on me. They are proud of me because I am the first in my family to graduate from college. I was born in a Palestinian refugee camp with little access to medical care, technology, or further education. There is no way to compare that situation to the one in the United States. My parents instilled in me the belief that even a person’s personality is defined by their work. They informed me that it aids in the understanding and expression of one’s individuality, improves stability, offers satisfaction, and allows people to achieve their goals.

My goal is to overcome the challenges that my family has faced, rather than allowing them to rule me. I try to set an example for my brothers and the rest of my family’s children. On the road to success, you’ll need to plan your career, work hard, use the right tools, and dedicate yourself to it. My ambition is to become a person who can help the poor and make a difference in the world. I want to set an example for people to follow by leading by example.

When I first grasped the importance of physical therapy, I comprehended what it meant to be disabled across all levels: physical, mental, and emotional. I was in a car accident a few years ago, and then as part of my recovery, I needed to see a therapist to help me regain function in my injured back and shoulder. Then and there, I discovered firsthand how important a physical therapist is in the healthcare field.

I discovered that the therapist’s commitment to restoring the patients’ health, assisting them in moving again, and returning them to their normal lives is critical. My personal experience taught me that a skilled therapist must have a thorough understanding of the body’s movement, endurance, and strength, particularly in the areas of my back muscles, arms, and joints. That medical practitioner assisted me in managing my discomfort and improving my mobility.

Eventually, I decided to reconsider my goals, modify my career path, and make every effort possible to obtain one of the most gratifying professions. I’ve decided to apply for physical therapy because it will allow me to make a difference in someone else’s life, just like it did in mine a few years ago. Because it has become a true passion for me, I hope to uphold a set of core beliefs and principles as just a physical therapist and achieve perfection as a specialist.

How To Write a Personal Statement For Transfer Money?

I want to treat my patients as if they were members of my family. I’ll never turn them away due to financial constraints. I want to be a source of inspiration and strength for them. I want to be the one that makes the patients have a good time, feel relieved, and not worried or sad about their situation. After being injured, I know how difficult it is to restart a normal life. I understand how difficult it is to go through difficult moments. I value my family’s support because they are the driving force behind all I do or strive to be. They gave us the ability to be the first in my family to graduate high school and obtain the Seinfeld Scholarship Award as well as a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a Psychology focus.

This is one of the finest physiotherapy masters personal statement examples.

My best friend’s brother had been in the military in Afghanistan during high school. His family was devastated to learn that he’d been involved in an insurgent explosive attack following months of combat. He had been in critical condition for more than a week. While surgeons were able to save his life, they were unable to salvage his limb. He was shocked but alive when he returned from Afghanistan, and he began physical treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center. During his two years of recuperation, I paid him numerous visits and observed how he gradually acclimated to being capable of moving, and then walking with such a prosthetic.

It was because of this experience that I decided to pursue a career in physics. Most people envision therapists directing a patient through simple motions repeatedly to “retrain” limbs to work in a specific way when they think of physical therapy. Although this is an important part of their employment, being a physical therapist also requires the capacity to provide emotional counseling and treatment. My friend’s brother had an extraordinarily gifted therapist who indicated that, while losing a leg would undoubtedly impact his life, it was still possible to live a regular life with it provided he had the determination to stick with it. Interacting alongside his physical therapist and seeing him acquire confidence in his new life inspired me to pursue a career in physical therapy. I wish to gain understanding and skills in a variety of industries as a Master’s student studying physical therapy.

I’ll learn the most up-to-date techniques and approaches in the sector, as well as the medical foundations for their application. But, I would be presented with current research that points to new directions for physical therapy, and I may do my study to simulate human damage and healing. All of these experiences from my Master’s in Physical Therapy program, I believe, will improve my capacity to interact with physicians and patients in the future as just a physical therapist.

My Home Town Paragraph

1) Select An Expertise

Begin by identifying a memorable experience. One apparent option is to select a physical therapy experience that inspired you to pursue the profession. However, the question does not state that this must be clinical or physical therapy-related, so don’t limit yourself to these scenarios.

(See PTCAS personal statement examples where people have described their experiences).

Consider the following experiences as possible topics for your writing:

Overcoming difficulties/adversity
Living with a physical or mental impairment
Taking care of a family member who has a handicap or suffers from a chronic disease
Experience as a volunteer
Missions to provide medical assistance
Working on a specific patient case
Working with others/leading a team
Teaching/mentoring

2) Describe How Your Life Has Changed As a Result Of The Experience

As given in the above physiotherapy job personal statement examples, tell about how the experience changed your career. Once you’ve narrowed down a few such events, you’ll need to figure out how each one “affected your personal growth, such as attitudes and perspectives.” This event should be ruled out if you are unable to recognize a shift in your growth.

Perhaps you worked with someone with whom you disagreed, but you learned to understand and respect their point of view. Maybe your time as a caregiver taught you how tough everyday duties can be for someone who has a chronic disease or handicap.

Perhaps your work with marginalized populations has given you a better understanding of healthcare inequities and inspired you to provide care in these areas.

3) How Will This Experience Influence Your Future Career as a Physical Therapist?

It’s important to keep in mind that you’re writing this essay to apply to physical therapy programs. As a result, you’ll want to wrap up this response by discussing how this shift in viewpoint has prepared or motivated you to become a great physical therapist.

Consider the following questions when you respond to the final section of the prompt:

Did your professional ambitions change as a result of this experience?
What impact has your shift in viewpoint had on the way you’ll approach patient care?
Is there anything in your answer that relates to the APTA Core Values?

Before selecting the real experience for this prompt, think about each event from steps 1-3. Before you define your statement, you might want to doodle some short sketches to assist you to get started.

Take advantage of the prompt’s versatility. Don’t stress about finding that one-of-a-kind experience; instead, focus on a single incident that defines your tale.

Hire our personal statement writers. You can see our occupational therapy personal statement examples.

If you are looking for athletic training personal statement examples , the above examples may help you. But if you are confused you can ask us for more help.

https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1524&context=honorsprojects

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-4886-3_195

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/asahp/jah/2022/00000051/00000002/art00009

Author & Editor Team: : Adila Zakir, Alexa Smith

Our review panel has been working in academic and non-academic writing for more than 1 decade.

PT School Personal Statement Examples: a Quick Guide

Table of Contents

Your statement is your chance to “sell” yourself to the admissions committee. We have great PT school personal statement examples to inspire you in crafting your statement.

We hope they provide a wealth of insights into the personal statement process and help you achieve admission to your dream PT school.

What Is a PT Personal Statement?

Personal statements for physiotherapy programs are creative writing assignments required for the UCAS application. It helps the admissions committee decide if you’re a good fit for their class and institution .

When applying to an undergraduate or graduate program, you’ll need to highlight your talents, achievements, and goals in your statement.

If you’re anything like most applicants, the mere thought of writing a personal statement makes you break out in a cold sweat. However, we have made it easy by detailing what to include in a PT personal statement.

How to Write an Outstanding PT Personal Statement

Writing a PT personal statement can be nerve-wracking. However, these steps will help you write an impressive personal statement that brings it all together in one successful, polished piece.

Begin with a few phrases on an experience that ignited your interest in the field.
Highlight your interest in physiotherapy by discussing pertinent aspects of your work experience, reading, hobbies, or anything else you find interesting.
Share what you’ve learned about physiotherapy and what you find most interesting about the field. Tutors in charge of admissions want to see that you have done your homework and are prepared for the program’s challenges.
You’ll need great people skills, the ability to work well in a team, and patience to succeed as a physiotherapist. Keep these talents in mind while you write the rest of your statement.

PT School Personal Statement Examples

Remember, your statement is only a small part of the application process and should be manageable. These INK examples detail what to write and how to write it, so it impacts the admission board.

I have always been passionate about the art of physical therapy. I also have a long-standing interest in human anatomy and kinesiology that was further stoked during my undergraduate studies. In particular, I found myself captivated by musculoskeletal injury prevention and management. I want to explore novel ways to enhance biomechanical efficiency through various stretching and movement exercises. My curiosity quickly translated into tangible accomplishments, such as designing several clinical interventions for athletes suffering from injuries or chronic conditions.

I believe PT school will provide me with the necessary skill set to embark on a meaningful career in helping people. As such, I am eager to hone my knowledge and develop effective strategies to rehabilitate clients. By utilizing evidence-based practices, I aspire to use my creativity to find innovative solutions tailored to each individual’s needs. Additionally, providing compassionate care is critical in helping patients reach their goals and regaining quality of life.

Pursuing physical therapy would allow me to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around me. With this in mind, I look forward to combining my enthusiasm and expertise with the invaluable experience offered by your esteemed program. It will help me become a highly competent practitioner and leader in this field.

I have long aspired to attend physical therapy school to hone my natural talents and knowledge of the human body. I possess a unique combination of practical skills and expertise that will make me an asset at any educational institution.

I’ve always had a passion for health and wellness, honed through years of recreational and professional experience. As a volunteer ambulance driver with a rural hospital, I regularly saw firsthand how physical therapy could dramatically improve lives. Further, my work as a strength trainer has provided me with invaluable insight into effective patient rehabilitation and injury prevention. In short, I am intimately familiar with therapeutic techniques designed to restore mobility, correct alignment issues, and reduce pain.

Moreover, I understand the emotional component of healing. Having endured numerous sports injuries myself, I relate deeply to those struggling with their conditions. This empathy allows me to create personalized treatment plans tailored to meet each client’s individual needs. My goal is not just to treat ailments but also to alleviate suffering, providing holistic care and gentle guidance every step of the way.

My diverse skill set and compassionate nature would be a perfect fit for physical therapy school. Therefore, I request that you consider me as an applicant.

Yours truly,

Final Words

These PT school personal statement examples above outline how to present your skills clearly and set yourself apart from competitors . It uses specific details to convey unique qualities.

Review these sample personal statements to learn more about what makes a persuasive personal statement. They also make great comparison points when building your PT school personal statement.

PT School Personal Statement Examples: a Quick Guide

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing PT School Application Essays

Here are some pointers for writing essays when you apply to physical therapy school. Please know that there isn’t a single best way to write your essays and everyone will answer each prompt differently, so do what works for you!

Essays are challenging to write, especially without any guidance. I had about 10 revisions of each of the 7 essays I wrote, had several people read them each time, and still had trouble writing some of them.

How to Start Writing Your Essay

1. Organize Your Thoughts

Write down the essay prompt, either on a computer or by hand. Read it a couple times, even out loud, until you have a good idea of what it is asking.

Then write down any thoughts that came to mind. They can be related to the prompt, or you can just write down what you like about the physical therapy profession or any specific experiences that stand out to you.

It doesn’t matter if you’ll actually end up writing about them. Don’t worry about your grammar or if it is written well. Just write down all of your thoughts into bullet points, or just a few words or a sentence for each idea.

If you are having trouble coming up with ideas, there is a section at the end of this post just for you. There are a lot of questions that may help you come up with ideas for your essay, so go check them out!

2. Turn your ideas into paragraphs

Write more about each point that you wrote down. Try to form a paragraph and relate it back to the prompt. If you’re struggling on writing more than a sentence or two about the bullet point, then maybe one of your other ideas will be better to include in your essay.

3. Choose 2-3 things to talk about

Now that you’ve written as much as you can about each bullet point, you should start to see a general direction to keep writing your essay. What are your favorite topics? What ideas can relate to each other to make a cohesive essay? What ideas answer the prompt the best?

4. Form a Complete Essay

Now that you’ve chosen your favorite paragraphs, format them into one essay. Now you can add an introduction paragraph that briefly mentions these paragraphs and your overall topic. Then you can add a conclusion.

5. Edit Your Essay

Now that you have a complete essay, you can read it from beginning to end. If it doesn’t flow well between each paragraph, add some transition sentences. If you don’t answer the prompt very well, rewrite some sentences. Keep editing and rewording until the essay is finished.

How Do You Format Your Essay?

You can format your essay however you like! I recommend that you have an introduction, some body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, you don’t need your typical “5 paragraph” essay. Some supplemental essays may also have a shorter length, so you might only write two paragraphs.

You can indent each new paragraph, or just put a space between paragraphs instead of indenting, unless the school states that there is a specific way they want you to format your essay.

General Tips for PT School Essays

I know that writing your essays is not as simple as those 5 steps. It can take weeks and be mentally exhausting. However, I’ve included a bunch of tips to help guide you to writing a great essay.

Be careful what you write about patients. If you choose to write about a patient, don’t include any specific personal information like their name, ethnicity, or occupation, or you will be violating HIPAA. Describing their general age, condition, gender, what setting you observed in, general occupation if it relates to your story, and what interventions were used is perfectly fine.
Don’t use contractions. I just did, but that’s besides the point! Contractions are too casual, so avoid them if possible.
First-person speech. It’s ok to say “I” and talk in first person. You’re writing about yourself, after all! Just make sure that you vary your sentence structure so that you don’t begin every sentence with “I”. There is never any reason to say “I think” in any sentence. It sounds unprofessional, so just delete it.
Focus on the positives. If you had any negative experiences, setbacks, or mistakes, don’t spend too much time writing about them. Explain yourself in a couple sentences, but focus on what you learned and how you’ve bettered yourself. Don’t dwell on the past, but try to focus on the positive results.
Try to avoid clichés. Almost everyone can write about how they want to be a physical therapist because they love to help people, or because they got injured and need physical therapy. You can briefly write these things, but you need to have other, more personal experiences that you can write about. Be sure to set yourself apart from others.
Why have you chosen each school? For supplemental essays for a specific school, make sure to mention why you want to go to their school, if it fits into the prompt. It’s good to show that you’ve done your research and are excited to attend their program for specific reasons.
Answer the question. It’s self-explanatory, but it’s so easy to get caught up in what you’re writing and go in a direction that doesn’t answer the original prompt. Make sure everything that appears in the essay helps to answer the prompt in some way.
Have others read and edit your essay. Family members, friends, classmates, college writing center, or people on the Student Doctor Network Forums can all help your essay. It’s so beneficial to have an outside perspective on essays, especially because the admissions committee reading your essay won’t read it in the same way that you do. Try to have as many people critique your essay as possible.
If you ask for help online, don’t post your entire essay for everyone on the internet to read. Make a new thread or comment on a current essay thread, and send an email directly to the person willing to read your essay. There are people that might steal your essay and use it as their own, so be careful who you send it to.
Take a break from writing. Constantly thinking about your essay, rewriting, and editing is exhausting. It’s helpful to take a few days from working on your essay, and then come back to it with a fresh start.
Try writing in different environments. I wrote mostly at home, but found that I got stuck with my writing. I started to write at coffee shops, which helped me be more productive. Try working at a library, outside, at a friend’s house, or in a different room in your own house.
Essays can take weeks to write. Make sure you start early enough so you aren’t stressed out from trying to meet an upcoming deadline. Start working on your essays as soon as possible.
Be careful when writing multiple essays. The PTCAS essay is sent to every school, so don’t copy and paste the same paragraphs into any supplemental essays. However, if two different schools have an essay prompt that is similar, then feel free to similar paragraphs.
Essays are weighed differently by each school. Some might not even read the PTCAS essay, others care more about their supplemental essays, or some schools do not care much about a well-written essay.
Maximum character length. You don’t have to write 4498 out of 4450 characters for your essay to be great. Shorter is fine if you can get your point across. Aim for the character maximum, but it’s fine to have several hundred less than that.
What if you wrote too much? Worry about the essay length after you have written your thoughts down. When you are finalizing your essay, remove the repetitive information and anything that does not support the prompt, for starters. Then you can try rewording your sentences so they get straight to your point.

Tips for Specific Essays

If you’re stuck with writing your essays, see if you can answer these questions. You don’t need to answer all of them or any of them to write a great essay. A lot of these questions will overlap and be useful on other prompts, so make sure to read through everything if you need help.

Hopefully these questions will get you out of any writers block you may have.

PTCAS Essay

You can find the essay prompt on the PTCAS Essay page , or on their Facebook page once it is released. When I applied in 2014, the essay prompt was released in early June, and the PTCAS application opened in early July. This gave me an entire month to write my essay before I could even start my PTCAS application.

The essay prompt changes every year or every several years, so I can’t give great advice for this. These are some tips from past essays, so hopefully they help.

How have your life experiences shaped who you are?
What observation experiences can you talk about?
Are there any patients that have influenced you?
How has an experience impacted how you want to want to practice physical therapy?
Who are the most influential people in your life?
When did you know that you wanted to be a physical therapist?
When have you been on a team or worked in a group? How was the team approach better than working by yourself?
Where do you see the field of physical therapy going, and how do you fit into that picture?
What sort of physical therapist to you see yourself being?
How would you treat your future patients?
What dream goals do you have?
What character traits are important to have as a physical therapist
What experiences have strengthened those traits for you, or what traits are you currently working on?
How has your time spent as a patient affected how you will be a physical therapist?
Are there any specific therapists that you wish to be like, or any therapists that you don’t want to become?
Why will you be valuable to this profession?
Are you interested in teaching, research, owning your own business, traveling, working for a nonprofit, or volunteering in another country?

Autobiography Essay

What challenges have you overcome in your life?
What are some of your major accomplishments?
Why do you want to be a physical therapist?
What things have you done that helped you grow as an individual
What activities have you participated in?
Who are some influential people on your life?
How have your family, friends, or peers shaped who you are today?
How would other people describe you?
What 5 words describe you the best?
What character traits are important for a physical therapist to have? Do you have these traits, or how are you improving them?
What is important to you?
How will your experiences make you a successful physical therapy student/physical therapist?
How did your upbringing shape your personality, and how will that make you a better physical therapist?
How have your experiences led you to the physical therapy career instead of other health care careers?
Is there a central theme about your life experiences?
How can you contribute to the field of physical therapy and your future patients?

Diversity Essay

Describe your life experience as it is related to your culture.
Is it hard to understand others who are from a different culture?
Do you have a culturally different perspective than your peers?
Does your culture have a different set of health care beliefs, or have you encountered another culture with different beliefs?
Have you had an experience in life where you felt like your culture created a barrier for you?
Have you volunteered for an economically disadvantaged population?
Do you have trouble relating to higher socioeconomic classes?
Have your experiences helped you relate better to certain people?
Have you witnessed any social, cultural, or economic barriers when observing in a health care setting?
How have you learned from any of these experiences?
How does recognizing, understanding, or appreciating diversity make you a better physical therapist?
Have you worked with individuals with disabilities?
How do these experiences support that you will be able to work with diverse patients when you are a physical therapist?

Reapplicant Essay

Have you retaken any classes?
Did you retake the GRE?
Do you have additional observation experiences?
Did you observe in any new settings or see a different patient population?
Did you have any additional work experience?
Where you involved in any groups or team sports?
Did you volunteer?
How are you more prepared to be a successful student?
Have you improved any personal skills?
Have you worked with individuals that are different or gave you a unique perspective?
What have you learned and how have you improved?
How did these new experiences change your perspective, improve your application, change your personality, taught you something new, made you grow, or support your desire to become a physical therapist?

Does Your Academic Record Accurately Reflect Your Capabilities?

Most people say that you should only answer this section if something major happened in your life that was out of your control, like an illness, personal injury, family emergency, death of a loved one, etc.

Don’t use this area to write a list of excuses for why your grades weren’t as good as you wished. Examples of excuses: Explaining that you weren’t mature enough, didn’t study hard enough, partied too much, took too many difficult classes, or went to a challenging university. Those are excuses because you were responsible and they could have been avoided or handled better. If you are eager to explain yourself, you can try to add a sentence or two into your PTCAS essay.

A lot of people had lower grades at the beginning of their college career, so if your grades improved over time and your transcript shows that, you don’t need to write an essay to explain yourself. It takes a while to learn how to succeed in college, and admissions committees understand that.

Additional Resources

Unfortunately there isn’t much information about physical therapy school essays. I found these resources for general essay writing, grad school essays, and med school essays, but they’re mostly applicable to physical therapy school too!

PTCAS Essay Prompt Essay Workshop 101 Writing the Personal Statement Personal Statement Before You Write Your Personal Statement, Read This Writing Your Medical School Personal Statement: Tips and Myths Writing the Personal Statement for Medical School

Student Doctor Network Forums:

Supplemental Essays character limit PTCAS Essay question for 2015-2016 application cycle! Essay This year’s personal statement prompt? Should I or should I not write about this in my essay? Re-applicant essay Does your personal statement have to be 4500 characters?

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The link you set for the reapplicant essay doesn’t lead to that blog post. I wanted to ask if you know if reapplicants should submit the same essays if the essay question is the same this year?

Sorry for taking so long to reply! I just saw your comment this morning.

Thank you for letting me know about the link. Occasionally blogs are taken down, so I’ll have to go through and make sure to remove all the links to that site.

That’s a tough question, and I don’t think there is really a correct answer. If you read the Student Doctor Network forums , you can find others who have run into the same situation. Do you know why you were not accepted the first time around? If you didn’t meet the GPA or GRE requirements, your application may have been automatically disqualified and your essays might have never been read. You can choose to use the same exact essay, but hopefully they haven’t been read by the same program already. You can also choose to edit your essays a little bit, and maybe add any new experiences that you’ve had since you last applied.

Best of luck this application cycle! 🙂

Hi Katie! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and I really appreciate it!!! I’m just wandering if you know any PT personal essay editing service?

Hey Lauren! Sorry for the delay in my response, and I hope it isn’t too late.

When I was applying to schools, I sent my essays to 3-4 of my friends (including an English major), so I got tons of feedback from them. There’s also the Student Doctor Network forums, and there are DPT students and PTs that offer up their spare time to edit essays! Just be cautious when sending your essay to strangers on the forum – make sure that they have a decent number of posts on that site.

I’m not sure if there is an essay editing service online, specific towards PT admissions essays.

If you need any last minute help, feel free to email me your essay and I can give some comments! Best of luck with getting into schools! 🙂

I’m almost finished with my PTCAS application process and I found this. Super helpful, I’m making some edits to my essay now. Thank you!

You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help! Good luck with applying and everything.

Thank you, that was so helpful!

You’re welcome! Thanks for the nice comment 🙂 glad I was able to help!

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The Curly Clinician - Physical Therapy + Lifestyle

PTCAS Essay 2020-2021/2021-2022/2022-2023: Initial Thoughts + 5 Tips

June 25, 2020 Physical Therapy , Pre-PT , PTCAS & Planning

Hi friends! Long time no personal statement post! PTCAS updated their essay for the 2020-2021 cycle, so I figured I’d give you guys my initial thoughts on the essay prompt and share a few tips to help you get started on crafting a winning essay!

PTCAS Essay Prompt : Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that “help” others, please go beyond your initial interaction or experiences with physical therapy, and share the deeper story that has confirmed your decision to specifically pursue physical therapy as your career.

In my opinion, I think this is a great essay prompt! It is way better than the one I had to answer when I applied in my opinion: “What is professionalism in the context of being a student in a doctor of physical therapy program?”…yea bleh. This prompt isn’t too vague; it’s just specific enough so that you know exactly what admissions committees are looking for, but you still have free range to make it personal and add your own flare.

1. Answer the prompt, period.

I know this may seem obvious, but I have edited many essays for pre-PT students, and have come across essays that didn’t even answer the prompt. This is a sure-fire way to stop someone from reading your essay, so follow directions, and try not to deviate too far from the prompt.

2. Wanting to “help others” is not enough.

Almost everyone wants to be a physical therapist because they want to help people, or because they had an awesome physical therapist when they were injured. While this is great, admissions committees want to hear why you want to become a physical therapist (which is why they explicitly included this in the prompt) as opposed to an MD/DO, a PA, an OT. Really think about WHY you want to help people. What are your passions? Pull from your life experiences (healthcare and/or non-healthcare related) to make your essay more personal.

3. What is your s tory?

Everyone has a story. Like the prompt requires, you must go beyond your initial experiences with physical therapy. Did you have a really impactful patient? A family tie? A childhood experience? Whatever it is, tell it! Your story will always be enough. This may require a bit of brainstorming (and deep thought), and that’s fine. Remember that admissions committees aren’t looking for this extravagant story though, they just want to know you and why physical therapy is the right fit. This is your personal statement…make it PERSONAL!

For example, my “PT story” includes the lack of representation for Black women in academia in general, but especially in the physical therapy profession. I began my essay discussing my first real experience with representation: receiving a Holiday Barbie doll that was Black every year for Christmas as a child. This was a piece of my story, and I used it to explain why physical therapy was the career choice for me, and how it made me a great applicant.

4. Make sure your essay has structure.

You need to have an introduction (with a captivating opener to engage the reader), and a conclusion to bring your essay full circle. I began my essay with a childhood memory (as mentioned earlier), but you could begin with a quote (kinda cliché, but you could make it work), a question, a general idea, or something else. You want to grab the reader’s attention immediately !

5. Show, don’t tell!

Use lots of examples. Show your story, don’t just tell it. The reader must be able to visualize your words, so that your story can come to life. You can achieve this by having a “theme” that you incorporate into your essay.

Alright guys, I hope this was helpful, and is a good start to helping you craft an awesome essay. Remember that I am available for editing (this essay, supplemental essays, and resumes), so click here if that is something you are interested in! Also feel free to check out this post for more tips on writing your essay(s)!

Special thanks to my sweet friend Yusra . She wrote a post like this on a past PTCAS prompt, and it inspired me to write one with my thoughts for this year’s prompt!

Reader Interactions

July 2, 2020 at 1:10 pm

Hi, thank you so much for these helpful tips! Do you think it best to discuss one personal experience when writing the personal statement or is it okay to talk about more than one?

July 5, 2020 at 3:53 pm

You’re so welcome! And I think it is okay to discuss more than one, just not too many!

July 22, 2020 at 10:20 pm

Hello, I was wondering if you could just glance over my essay and let me know if the structure is fine?

July 25, 2020 at 12:36 pm

Hi, I offer editing services under my “shop/services” page!

July 25, 2020 at 11:38 am

Wonderful insight! These tips gave me some great ideas for my essay after weeks of being lost with this prompt. Thank you so much!

July 25, 2020 at 12:38 pm

You’re so welcome, good luck with everything!

August 18, 2020 at 10:33 pm

Awesome thank you!

September 13, 2020 at 11:56 pm

What do you think is an appropriate length for the essay. The maximum word limit is 4500 but I’m afraid of writing too much that it might loose the interest of the reader and too little that the reader may not see my personality/experience detail.

September 15, 2020 at 7:42 pm

You should definitely try your hardest to hit the 4500 CHARACTER limit!

September 24, 2020 at 11:24 am

Hello, I am having the hardest time starting on my personal essay. I know exactly what I want to say, I just do not have right words at the moment. When I first read your tips, I had the perfect flow going but now I am stuck.

September 24, 2020 at 3:40 pm

Hi Alicia! My biggest piece of advice for when you are stuck is to take a break. Coming back to your essay later with a fresh pair of eyes can be a game changer. I hope this helps!

January 5, 2021 at 4:20 pm

Hey girly! Thank you so much for all the info! It’s been really helpful exploring your blog! I’m a little confused on the how often the prompts change for the personal statements. Is it every two years that a new prompt gets put out?

January 5, 2021 at 5:41 pm

You’re so welcome! And yes typically they change every 2 years!

July 28, 2022 at 10:40 am

Thank you so much for all this info! It’s been super helpful as my college also did not have a Pre-PT club. When writing the PTCAS essay, is it okay to use “PT” instead of physical therapy or things like “PT school”? I am right over the 4500 character limit and am trying to cut some things out! Thank you for all of your help!

August 18, 2022 at 10:36 pm

You’re so welcome Sarah! Yes, that is totally fine!

Sharing clinical sprinkles about physical therapy.

Ptcas personal statement prompt 2021-2022.

If you're applying for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program for the 2021-2022 cycle, you're in the right place.

This year's prompt matches last year's prompt which is:

Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that “help” others, please go beyond your initial interaction or experience with physical therapy, and share the deeper story that has confirmed your decision to specifically pursue physical therapy as your career.

This is an elaborate way of asking... Why physical therapy? Why PT above all other health professions?

If your answer is simply, "because I want to help people," I'm going to be the one to tell you that you're going to need to dig a lot deeper than that. The prompt literally asks for a deeper story.

You don't have to have been a patient in PT to want to apply to PT school. I hadn't been a patient myself before I applied to school. Through observation hours and more, I found my calling in PT. I share my "PT why" in my personal statement for the 2013-2014 cycle here .

If you're finding yourself scrambled on how to write your essay or even how to start, a coaching call may be the best option for you. I've helped several pre-PT, pre-OT, pre-PA, and pre-med, students with their personal statements, and they've successfully been accepted. I specialize in finding the deeper WHY and making sure the writer is showing, not telling.

If you've already have what you think is a close-to-final draft, I also provide consults to go over the essay with an unbiased view and help you bring in an emotional touch to your story to captivate the reader. I had a less than ideal application and I believe my personal statement helped me stand out. Read more about my less-than-ideal application here .

Good luck to all of those applying! And follow @clinicalsprinkles on Instagram for more application tips and learning about the life of an outpatient ortho PT.

How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School

Navigating the competitive landscape of graduate school admissions can be challenging. With competitive Medical School and PA School acceptance rates , it’s crucial to make a lasting impression. Your personal statement for graduate school serves as a powerful tool to showcase your unique qualities and demonstrate why you’re an ideal fit for the program.

While crafting a compelling personal statement may seem like a daunting task, it’s an opportunity to showcase your unique voice and experiences. The right personal statement can be the pivotal factor that sets you apart from other applicants and secures your admission to your desired graduate program. This is why it is so important to know how to write a personal statement for grad school.

What Are Personal Statements for Graduate School?

A grad school personal statement serves as a bridge between you and the admissions committee, offering a glimpse into your motivations, experiences, and aspirations. It’s an opportunity to articulate why you’re an ideal fit for the program and how your contributions will enrich the academic community.

Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose

Navigating the intricacies of graduate school applications often involves two crucial documents: the statement of purpose and the personal statement. While they share some similarities, each serves a distinct purpose in portraying your suitability for the program.

A statement of purpose focuses on your academic and professional aspirations, outlining your career goals and highlighting the specific skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the program. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your alignment with the program’s objectives and your potential for success in the field.

A personal statement, on the other hand, takes a deeper look at your personal narrative, offering insights into your motivations, values, and the experiences that have shaped your path. It’s a chance to showcase your unique qualities, how your life experiences have influenced your career choices and the contributions you’ll bring to the program’s community.

How To Create Your Personal Statement

Start with some self-assessment. This will help you clarify the information to include in your statement. Consider:

What details about yourself do you think would best fit into the statement? What things do you want the admissions board to know about you?
What are your career goals, and how does entering this program help you achieve them?
What skill sets do you have in your field of study, and how do you hope to advance them by going to graduate school?

When considering whether to address potential obstacles in your personal statement, weigh the benefits of transparency against the possibility of raising unnecessary concerns. If you believe disclosing these challenges will provide valuable context and demonstrate your resilience, do so with a focus on how you’ve overcome adversity and grown from the experience.

Creating a Style for Your Statement

There are two basic approaches to take when crafting a grad school personal statement. You could create a comprehensive statement that includes information about yourself that you want the admissions board to know. The personal statement is a way of marketing yourself to the school as a potential candidate. A comprehensive approach is an essay about what makes you the right candidate for the program.

The other option is to answer specific questions. A graduate school often asks questions you can answer on your personal statement.

Writing a Draft

First, check if the admissions board has questions they want answered in your statement. Look over the school application and use it as a guide. These application tips can give you insight into what the board wants to know. What questions do they ask there? Can you incorporate them into your statement?

Next, revisit the self-assessment questions you previously explored and expand upon them. By combining the insights gained from both the application guidelines and your self-reflection, you’ll have a solid foundation for outlining your personal statement. This comprehensive approach ensures you address the board’s specific interests while showcasing your unique qualities and aspirations.

Tips for Developing a Personal Statement

No two personal statements will be the same, and that is a critical part of the process. The application board at the grad school wants you to tell your story through your personal statement. Here are some tips that can help.

Make It a Story

Write the statement as a narrative or story. Pick a few critical points about yourself you want them to know or that it seems they want to hear and answer in a story format. You want to show them who you are through the story as opposed to just telling them. A story is more engaging than just a list of facts about yourself.

Craft a concise and impactful personal statement by eliminating unnecessary details and focusing on compelling evidence. Instead of simply stating your suitability for the PA profession, provide concrete examples that demonstrate your strengths and passion for the field. Articulate the specific characteristics that make you an ideal candidate, using clear and straightforward language that conveys your sincerity and professionalism.

The first paragraph should grab their attention and make them want to continue reading your personal statement. It should serve as a framework for what they can expect to learn about you.

Avoid Some Topics

Prioritize discussing achievements from your undergraduate years onwards. Steer clear of potentially divisive topics like politics or religion. Instead, center your narrative around your aspirations and objectives.

Research the School

When writing a personal statement, it is important that you research the schools you want to attend. Then highlight the following information in your statement: What is it about this graduate program that makes you want to apply? How is it different from other similar schools? You can use that information to build your statement. For example, does the location or culture have some influence on your selection?

Consider a Mentorship Program

Whether you need assistance crafting a compelling personal statement for grad school or have additional questions about preparing for the graduate program of your choice, Advanced eClinical Training is here to guide you.

At Advanced eClinical Training (ACT), you’re not just getting a service; you’re gaining a partnership. This partnership connects you with seasoned student advisors . These mentors, with their rich vocational and training backgrounds, are adept at helping you sculpt a standout grad school personal statement. But their expertise doesn’t stop there. You’ll receive comprehensive support throughout your application journey, from refining your resume to providing you with practice interview questions to help you ace your interview.

Enroll in one of ACT’s Mentorship Programs today and discover a cost-effective yet invaluable alternative to traditional Admissions Consultants.

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Personal Statements

The personal statement is a narrative that allows you to tell the admissions committee more about who you are using a central theme or thesis.

It is an opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants and allows the reader to get to know you beyond your grades, test scores, and resume.

Adds a “human element”
Explains motivation/characteristics
Describes experiences that have shaped your goals
Generates interest in meeting you

Before you begin your personal statement, you need to familiarize yourself with the personal statement parameters specified by your application.

Character Limitations - AMCAS and AACOMAS 5,300 characters. AADSAS, OptomCAS, OTCAS, and PTCAS 4,500 characters. CASPA 5,000 characters.
Formatting - The personal statement text fields of most applications have limited (if any) formatting options. This means you can't bold, underline, or italicize text. We recommend writing your personal statement in a plain text document.
Specific Prompt - Your application will have a specific prompt around which you should orient your personal statement. Make sure that your statement adequately addresses the prompt. Be sure to verify the prompt for your application cycle, as it may change each year.

Once you know the parameters, you can begin brainstorming and drafting your personal statement.

What is Your Brand?

Your personal statement is about selling yourself to the admissions committee. You should begin with reflecting on your values, your best qualities, what you are passionate about, what's important to you, and how all of that has led you down the path to this career. You will need to identify activities or experiences where you demonstrate qualities that will prepare you for professional school and a career in healthcare. Telling professional schools that you possess various qualities is one thing, but the point is to really show them through your activities.

If you are having trouble formulating ideas about what to include in your personal statement, utilize the Wandering Map worksheet linked below to help organize your thoughts about why you are pursuing this pathway and to catalog your various experiences and activities over the last few years.

The AAMC has outlined a set of 17 Premed Competencies that represent skills they believe applicants must have for success in medical school and in their future careers as physicians. These broad ranging skills are critical for all the healthcare professions and can be utilized to help you frame your various experiences in both your personal statement and other areas of the application. They may also be able to help you see the value in some of the activities which you may feel are very disconnected from your professional goals -- e.g. a customer service part-time job, club sports, volunteering for The Guide Dog Foundation, etc. The Core Competencies worksheet below can help you organize your experiences by their corresponding skill set.

Drafting Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement is your chance to tell the admissions committee your story. Since space is limited, you will need to determine what is most relevant and valuable to include and also convey it in the most impactful way. You should identify when you realized your career goal and what you have done in order to prepare for professional school and that career. In your statement you should highlight stories that show your resilience, passions, individuality, and skills that will make you successful in your respective field. Include experiences that demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, dedication to service, composure under pressure, and leadership ability as well as experiences that challenged or changed your perspective about your field. You want to convey that you have a realistic understanding of the field and that you are the right fit for your chosen profession. The latter must be demonstrated through actions, so be mindful of how you construct your statement.

Consider this example from Dr. Renee Marinelli :

In your personal statement you should demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of your "why." The "why" is your purpose and your motivation. If you don’t know why you do what you do and why you are pursing this career, how can you expect the admissions committee to know and trust that this is the right path for you? To begin outlining your why statement you have to think about what it is you want to contribute to your chosen profession. Once you’ve identified your contribution you have to figure out what you want the impact of your contribution to be.

Simon Sinek TED talk: How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Once you have your "why" you want to support your stated motivation with actions which demonstrate your right fit for the profession, you capacity to succeed in your career, and an overall vision which ties all of this together.

Why do you want to pursue this career?
What was your initial aspiration?
Did you have a "moment" when you realized your goal?
What has been your ongoing preparation?
How do you know this is the right career for you?
What values or traits do you have that align with this profession well?
How do you know that you have what it takes to be successful in this career?
Accurately assess your skills, strengths, weaknesses and challenges you may face.
Put your skills in a context that demonstrates your ability to succeed.
How do you want to impact the profession?
Why do you want to impact the field?

Tips for Writing Your Statement

Your personal statement should not be a rehash of your resume nor is it necessarily in your best interest to organize your statement chronologically. As you approach writing your statement, you should identify a theme and goals for what you want your personal statement to convey. You could consider:

After the admissions committee has read your statement, what three words do you hope they would use to describe you?
Are there any common threads when examining your activities and interests?
Is your application narrative consistent?"

A strong "why" and excellent theme cannot make up for poor writing and grammar mistakes. Clarity of writing in your personal statement is just as important as your message. While this is your story, it is also a professional document. Make sure that you are using a structure that is clear and easy to follow to ensure that you are getting your point across. If you are having trouble with organizations consider using the PEEL structure.

Point – topic sentence – what is the point you want to make? “Extracurricular activities provided me the opportunity to broaden my leadership experience."
Evidence – make your point – what evidence supports your point? “In M.O.V.E (Mobilization of Volunteer Effort), I was responsible for soliciting and training volunteers which enabled me to work with other organizations within the University. I also helped coordinate the scheduling of volunteers for two Red Cross blood drives. As vice president of the campus premed club, I scheduled meetings, arranged for guest speakers and publicized events.”
Explanation – explain your point – why is this relevant to the program you are pursuing? “In the process, I learned that it takes a lot of patience and discipline to meet the responsibilities for organizing group activities. ”
Progression of time (immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, (first, second, etc.), next and then)
Change in place (coming to, when taking)
Additional example (not only...,but also; also; similarly)
Contradiction of limitation (however, even though, at the same time)
Cause or effect (as a result, because, because of, caused by, consequently, for that reason, that is why, therefore, thus)

Below is a outline for you to use to help you organize your personal statement before you begin your first draft.

Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls
AAMC Personal Statement
Writing A Personal Statement

UGA Personal Statement Resources:

Career Center
Writing Center

Accessibility Tools

Highlight links, change contrast, increase text size, increase letter spacing, readability bar, dyslexia friendly font, increase cursor size, writing personal statements.

All health professional schools require applicants to submit a "Personal Statement" during the initial application phase. This statement is a critical element in the application process and can significantly help or harm a student's chance for success. This page is a tool to help you begin your personal statement. In addition to using this page, it is imperative that you consult with your pre-health advisor for further assistance.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is…

A revelation of your personality
Includes your strengths, beliefs, and values
Uses concrete, vivid details to demonstrate the qualities and characteristics you possess and will also aid you as a health care provider
Your first (and perhaps only) opportunity to sell yourself

This statement is your initial opportunity to address the admissions committee. This statement can lead to an interview IF you express your commitments, motivations, and values. The personal statement should be a reflection of the unique individual that you are.

What should I include in my personal statement?

Review the following video and information below to learn how to write a personal statement for professional school:

Discuss WHY you are interested in the chosen profession

Schools want to assess your motivation for this career before they ask for an interview.
Are there events, people and /or experiences that reinforced your interest? Share personal vignettes that support your stated interest and motivation.
Avoid clichés and undocumented generalizations about wanting to help people. Remember that numerous other professions cite "helping people" in their mission statement.
Before starting this statement, ask yourself “...what have I done to personally convince myself that I want to be a...?"
Being a health care provider often means a lifetime of giving back to society--what sustained commitment have you made to humanitarian activities?

Consider discussing individuals or incidents that have shaped your life

Avoid extensive references to childhood or high school experiences. Granted early exposure to medicine may have sparked an interest, but should not be the reason behind your pursuit of this goal. You must convey that you've made an adult decision to pursue this career.

ELABORATE upon extracurricular activities and/or volunteer/work experiences that you have listed elsewhere in the application

Do not make the mistake of merely re-listing these activities.
Use this opportunity to give new information about your involvement which is not listed elsewhere. Since many students are involved in a number of activities, focus on noteworthy ones.
Describe the depth of your involvement in a fashion that implies you have certain characteristics necessary to be a good health care provider.
Discuss your contribution, what you have learned from the experience, and the personal satisfaction you have gained. Discuss the personal impact of these activities.

Consider personal qualities that have been developed and/or enhanced through such involvement

Do not write "I am a warm, compassionate person"-let the reader draw his/her own conclusions after reading your statement.
Describe your experiences so that the reader concludes you are mature, independent, etc.--refrain from directly telling them so.
Consider responses to the following questions: What did you learn? How has this reinforced your interest in the chosen profession?

Use this as an opportunity to answer any perceived questions

Most applicants will not need to use this space to explain academic irregularities. However, if you have a significant number of "W's" or "I's" on your transcript, you may wish to consider addressing the reasons in the statement.
Do not use the entire space to discuss your transcript and leave other questions about motivation and activities unanswered.
If necessary briefly explain the nature of the situation and accept responsibility for your academic record.
Consult with your pre-professional advisor if you need further guidance.

Many students wish to write about their personal philosophy

Caution, this is a tricky thing to discuss in the statement because you may come across as being narrow-minded or intolerant to different opinions.
While your personal philosophy is important, it is a difficult task to produce a relevant and sincere statement while discussing these items.
Weigh the pros and cons before deciding to include this item. Perhaps your philosophy is better discussed at the interview.

Non-traditional background

If yes, use it to your advantage.
If returning to school after a significant gap in time, describe why your career change is a well thought out decision.
Focus on the positives of your current career while describing how medicine will fill the gaps of what is missing.

What format should I use?

This statement must be well written with an introduction, body and conclusion. Do not expect your first draft to be the final product. Once the statement is complete, it is beneficial to have it reviewed by several individuals with different perspectives. An individual who has good editing skills for both spelling and grammar usage is of particular importance.

Take advantage of the consultants in the " Writing Center " in 300 Bessey Hall and various residence halls who are available to work with writers at all levels of proficiency and at various stages of the composing process.

Call (517) 432-3610 to schedule an appointment.
The campus grammar hotline (517) 432-1370 can also be consulted for current information of proper grammar usage.

When writing the statement take advantage of the maximum number of characters allowed. You are given a certain amount of space for a reason, and using one-half page does not convey a strong interest in the application. If you are submitting an application through a service (i.e. AMCAS), do not express an interest in a specific health professional school. Your application may not be very successful if MSU-CHM reads about your strong interest in U of M.

Personal Inventory Questions

Download the Personal Statement Questionnaire for more assistance with identifying and developing elements you want to include in your finalized personal statement

Schools Not Participating in Application Service

Personal statements sent directly to schools not participating with an application service should include a brief discussion of your interest in the school and its program.

Maximum characters by application service:

Pre-health advisors.

Request Pre-Health Tracking Code

Contact for Current Students Undergraduate Academic Student Affairs Natural Science Building 288 Farm Lane, Room 108 East Lansing, MI 48824 Email: [email protected] Phone: (517) 355-4470

Schedule an Appointment Contact for Alumni and MSU Graduates Please call (517) 355-4470 to schedule a Pre-Health Appointment Follow us on Instagram @msu_prehealth and visit the Pre-Health Student Blog !

Contact for Prospective Students Gabby Wahla, M.A. Undergraduate Recruitment Coordinator Email: [email protected] Phone: 517-355-4470

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PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program. You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important. However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
Specific examples to support that narrative.
Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

Personal Statement

Drafting Your Personal Statement

Check out the 15 Pre-Health Professions Core Competencies that represent skills applicants should work to develop for success in graduate health professional school and in their future careers in the health field. These broad ranging skills are critical for all the healthcare professions and can be utilized to help you frame your various experiences in both your personal statement and other areas of the application. They may also be able to help you see the value in some of the activities which you may feel are very disconnected from your professional goals -- e.g. a customer service part-time job, club sports, volunteering, etc.

Strengthen your Statement

Once you've drafted your personal statement you can strengthen it by highlighting specific experiences, showing rather than telling, and organizing for readability. Strong personal statements will be selective and develop particular examples that the committee can remember rather than give a general overview. Of course you can mention a few experiences in an opening sentence but you should highlight, or further develop, one or two particular examples in the rest of the paragraph. In addition to selecting specific experiences to highlight, you'll want to show your qualities and compatibility rather than just tell the readers about them.

After you highlight specific examples and develop those examples in order to show and not just tell, you'll want to be sure that your organized for readability. There's no single organizational pattern that all personal statements should use. However, you should identify a clear pattern of organization that makes the information readable for your audience. Often organizational patterns for personal statement will involve a combination of the past (your preparation or qualifications), the present (your compatibility with the program), and the future (your long term goals). Remember, when choosing your organizational pattern, it's important that you follow the personal statement prompt in order to highlight the aspects that the committee values.

Don't forget to revise your personal statement to ensure that it highlights your best qualities and most relevant experiences. Once you've written and revised your personal statement, you'll want to take your time and polish your writing. There should be no spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors.

Once you have a good grasp on your "why" and have a list of all of your activities, you should consider how all of your experiences have developed skills that will be helpful in your future career and how to go about selling those experiences in your application. Many students believe that everything they include in the application should be clinically related, but that is not the case. Your leadership experiences, research, athletics, non-clinical volunteering, job, study abroad, and other campus and community involvements have likely played a significant role in shaping who you are. You can and should include these in your application.

Why do you want to pursue this career?
What was your initial aspiration?
Did you have a "moment" when you realized your goal?
What has been your ongoing preparation?
How do you know this is the right career for you?
What values or traits do you have that align with this profession well?
How do you know that you have what it takes to be successful in this career?
Accurately assess your skills, strengths, weaknesses and challenges you may face.
Put your skills in a context that demonstrates your ability to succeed.
How do you want to impact the profession?
Why do you want to impact the field?

After the admissions committee has read your statement, what three words do you hope they would use to describe you?
Are there any common threads when examining your activities and interests?
Is your application narrative consistent?"

Point – topic sentence – what is the point you want to make? “Extracurricular activities provided me the opportunity to broaden my leadership experience."
Evidence – make your point – what evidence supports your point? “In M.O.V.E (Mobilization of Volunteer Effort), I was responsible for soliciting and training volunteers which enabled me to work with other organizations within the University. I also helped coordinate the scheduling of volunteers for two Red Cross blood drives. As vice president of the campus premed club, I scheduled meetings, arranged for guest speakers and publicized events.”
Explanation – explain your point – why is this relevant to the program you are pursuing? “In the process, I learned that it takes a lot of patience and discipline to meet the responsibilities for organizing group activities. ”
Progression of time (immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next and then)
Change in place (Coming to, When taking)
Additional example (Not only...,but also; Also; Similarly)
Contradiction of Limitation (However, Even though, At the same time)
Cause or Effect (as a result, because, because of, caused by, consequently, for that reason, that is why, therefore, thus)

Advisors Toolkit

If you are an academic advisor to a student interested in pursuing a healthcare profession, this toolkit is here to assist you in answering questions and getting them on the right track.

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Physical Therapy School Requirements – the Complete Guide

If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that we need highly qualified medical professionals of every type.

Because they’re so important, medical professionals face one of the most difficult roads to degree and accreditation. And with good reason. Not only is there no room for error when working on the human body, but there’s the constant need to keep up with evolving practices and innovations.

For that reason, it’s a challenge for anyone going into a medical field – not just doctors and nurses, but physical therapists as well.

As health specialists, physical therapists help you manage illnesses or injuries to bones and muscles, neurological systems, the heart and lungs, skin, and more. Physical therapists work with people of all ages and from all walks of life, sometimes helping to prevent future problems and sometimes working to correct a previous issue.

Because physical therapists serve such an important role, they enjoy a lucrative and stable career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , people working as physical therapists make an annual salary that averages $91,010 per year.

Even better, the field is expected to grow by 18% over the next few years, which means that there’s going to be a demand for physical therapists. Once you graduate, you’ll have a good chance of finding a job.

But graduating is the hard part, as is finding the right physical therapy school. Because they are fundamentally medical schools, physical therapy schools ask a lot of applicants. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the process.

This guide takes you through each and every step. We’ll tell you which classes you should take, how to take the GRE, how to fill out your application, and so much more.

So if you’re ready to meet the challenge and make way toward your reward, read on!

Course Prerequisites for PT School

Although most physical therapy schools will accept applications from those who hold a degree in any subject , it’s undoubtedly true that some classes will prepare you better than others. As a physical therapist, you’ll be both a scholar and a practitioner, which means you’ll need skills in both areas.

While each school has its own culture and expectations, it’s important to remember that they are fundamentally graduate schools. They should be a continuation of your intellectual journey, not a brand-new start. For that reason, the courses you take as an undergrad matter a great deal for your application.

In most cases, schools prefer applicants who have taken the following: two semesters of general chemistry with lab, two semesters of biology with lab, two semesters of physics with lab, one semester and lab of human anatomy, and one semester and lab of physiology.

Many programs also like to see certain specialized courses, such as kinesiology, pathophysiology, exercise physiology, two semesters of statistics, and two semesters of English composition.

Two semesters of a foreign language can be beneficial, especially if you’re looking to secure employment where that language is common among the patient body. Likewise, most schools prefer students who have taken psychology and another social science class.

While that’s a lot of classes, it’s important to remember that these are considered the basic expectations from physical therapy schools. In other words, most students applying to the program will have taken these courses, and you will not stand out by having these courses on your transcript. High grades and strong letters of recommendation will help improve your chances.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Requirements

Because physical therapy school is fundamentally a graduate school, most programs require scores from a standardized test. Namely, they want results from the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) , a test standard for graduate school applications. Although some institutions require GRE subject tests, most programs only want scores for the general GRE.

The general GRE covers knowledge common to every college student, no matter their major. The six sections of the test assess skills students will use in graduate school: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking .

The analytical writing section asks students to draft two essays in one sitting and on a time limit. Students must explain a complex topic for the first essay. For the other essay, the writer must make a persuasive argument.

The program on which test-takers compose the essays has no spell check or grammar check program, requiring the writer to draw from their own knowledge. After completion, two readers grade the essays on a scale of 0-6, awarding a final grade from an average of the two.

Each of the verbal and quantitative sections has 20 questions, which must be completed within 35 minutes. Data interpretation, comparisons between figures, and fundamental arithmetic problems make up the quantitative portion of the exam. In the verbal part, students engage with a piece of text and demonstrate their understanding of vocabulary.

The verbal and quantitative reasoning sections are graded differently than the other parts of the GRE. The measures in those are section-level adaptive, which means that the computer selects the second operational section of a measure based on your performance in the first section. In other words, if you get a question right, you’ll be given a slightly more complex question next; if you get a question wrong, you’ll get a somewhat easier question.

After completion, exam proctors calculate a raw score according to the number of questions answered correctly. That raw score is then converted to a scaled score through a process known as equating, which accounts for minor variations in difficulty among the different test editions as well as the differences in difficulty introduced by the section-level adaptation.

PT School Extracurricular Requirements

Imagine yourself getting ready to submit your completed application for physical therapy school.

You’ve taken all of the required classes and you’ve earned good grades. You have strong scores on the GRE. Your personal statement essay is compelling and your letters of recommendation come from leaders of the field.

Before sitting back in victory, ask yourself one question: “Am I the only person with these accolades?”

In most cases, the answer is “no.” Many other people who are applying to the PT school also have really good materials. So what can you do to make yourself stand out?

One of the best ways to distinguish your application are extracurricular activities, those unique bonus things you can do that aren’t required but are interesting.

Before we get into the type of extracurriculars that help an application, let’s point out a couple that does not. According to the American Physical Therapy Association , history as a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) does not increase your chances. In fact, fewer than 2% of students in PT school were PTAs, which makes clear its unimportance to applying.

Also, although it may be personally satisfying to shadow a physical therapist, such activities carry little weight on an application. Shadowing is just following around a professional. It might help you get a good letter of recommendation, but it won’t be distinctive on your application.

Likewise, paid or volunteer experience doesn’t stand out because most programs require a certain amount of hours interacting with patients.

What stands out? Any extra time working with patients or leading an organization.

If you can perform procedures, or even take charge of a patient’s care and treatment, then you’ll have an advantage over most other applicants. There are many ways to gain this type of experience , such as getting an internship, volunteering at a local clinic, or volunteering for a senior care center.

You don’t need to be performing brain surgeries. Just taking care of patients is enough to make an impression.

These activities will be even more impressive if you act as a leader in any of your situations. If you’re directing other volunteers or taking charge of the process, then you’ll demonstrate other unique qualities.

In short, the best way to stand out is to take initiative and take care of patients.

Physical Therapy School Interviews

Let’s say you’ve created the perfect application. You have great test scores and a strong GPA. Your essay is compelling, and your letters of recommendation are impeccable.

You should be an easy in, right?

Well, maybe. There is one more hurdle to clear: the physical therapy school interview.

A school interview is exactly what it sounds like: a conversation with representatives from the school about whether or not you should join the program. In most cases, interviews are the final step before a decision is made and an offer is extended.

A lot of students worry about school interviews. They try to prepare by figuring out who will be present for the interview, and doing research to discover their research interests and expertise.

To be frank, that’s a waste of time. Not only is the specific interviewer subject to change at the last minute, but it’s also putting the focus the wrong way. An interview isn’t about the person asking the questions; it’s about you, the potential student.

The specific wording of questions will change according to the person doing the asking, but most interviews come down to these three questions: Why you? Why us? Why now?

To put it another way, schools want to know why you are the right person to go to that program at that time. The questions will sound different, but that’s the basic point.

If you come to an interview ready to tell your story, to explain your history as a physical therapist, and prepared to say how the school will help you advance your goals, then you’re in good shape. All of your answers are just building on that point.

You should come expecting the interviewer to ask, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Your answer should highlight your journey and the program’s role in helping you continue it.

Once you have that foundation in place, you’ll be ready to start formulating your own questions. An interview isn’t just about the school interrogating you; it also gives you a chance to learn about them.

One of the most important things you can do is to verbally express your interest . But after you tell the interviewer what you think about the program, it’s your chance to learn more. If you come with a set of questions, you’ll show that you care about the school and are engaged in what it has to offer.

For that reason, strong questions are just as important as good answers. Both responses work to prove that you’re the right person for their program.

Essays & Personal Statements

At first glance, the personal statement essay is very scary. It asks you to write one or two pages in which you explain why you should be accepted into the program. Instead of just showing your credentials to the physical therapy school, you need to tell the reader that you belong.

The questions programs give you as prompts can be broad and somewhat overwhelming. For example, students applying to the physical therapy program at Claremont McKenna College were asked , “What personal characteristics and motivating factors have led you to pursue the profession of physical therapy?”

But if you slow down and take the personal statement essay one step at a time, it becomes much more manageable.

First of all, let’s talk about the structure. For people who hate to write, two single-spaced pages is a lot to cover.

But despite their very high stakes, personal statement essays follow the same structure that you used when writing five-paragraph essays throughout high school.

First, you’ll write an introduction, which lays out the general idea of your essay and includes a hook to grab the reader’s attention.

Next, you’ll provide several body paragraphs. These will all feature evidence for your claims, such as anecdotes and details.

Finally, you’ll end with a concluding paragraph, which reminds the reader of your main points.

In most cases, your essay will be about five paragraphs and no more than ten.

While the content of your personal statement for physical therapy school needs to be more complex than the stuff you wrote back in high school, it does not require a lot of research or expertise.

As you can see from those sample essay prompts, the schools want you to write about yourself. You get to be the center of attention.

Before you begin drafting your essay, take a moment to reflect. Why do you want to study physical therapy? What events or influences brought you to this point of study?

After that brainstorming, you begin focusing on your essay. Construct a narrative in which certain events in your life bring you to the school to which you’re applying.

It might be tempting to spend most of your time describing an important teacher or a physical therapist who you want to model. But the school isn’t trying to learn about them. They want to know about you, so keep your attention on yourself.

Think of the personal statement as a chance to tell a story. You are the main character of this story. The story will follow your early days, when you first learned about physical therapy, and will continue through your high school and undergraduate days.

At the end of the story, you should tell the reader how the school to which you are applying is the next step, the thing that will bring you to the happy ending, where you become a successful physical therapist.

When you look at it that way, the personal statement isn’t scary at all. It’s a chance to talk about yourself and your passions. It’s the best way to make your case for acceptance into the program of your dreams.

GPA Requirements

If you’re like most students, you’ve probably been told time and again that grades are important. If you don’t get a good grade in a class or on a test, then you can kiss your college dreams goodbye.

As powerful as that logic might be for teachers, the truth is a bit more complicated.

Yes, grades do matter, but not quite in the way your teacher suggested. In fact, most physical therapy schools don’t even list minimum grade point averages in their requirements.

Does that mean that schools don’t care about GPAs? Not at all.

For one, schools like students with high GPAs because those look better on ranking sites such as U.S. News & World Report . These rankings help the school in everything from fundraising to recruiting, so they want a higher spot.

More importantly, GPAs serve as good indicators of a student’s commitment to their studies. Students with high GPAs appear to be hard workers, who take their studies seriously. A low GPA suggests that the student doesn’t devote quite enough time and energy to their school work.

For that reason, average GPAs are more important to students than minimum GPAs.

On average , students in PT schools have a GPA between 2.74 and 3.2. If your GPA falls between those numbers, then you can probably handle the workload required of a program.

If your GPA is around 2.5, then schools will question your ability to keep up with your studies. They may pass you over for someone more in line with their averages.

For that reason, it’s important to contextualize your GPA. If your grades are falling a bit short, explain yourself in letters of recommendation or in your personal statement essay.

Schools look to GPAs to determine the type of student you will be. If your grades aren’t telling the right story, you’ll need to emphasize your abilities in other parts of your application.

Letters of Recommendation

As you’ve no doubt have found, every part of your application to physical therapy school carries weight. Admissions committees will be reading your personal statement, assessing your test scores, and even looking at your GPA. But few parts of an application carry as much weight as letters of recommendation .

Simply put, a letter of recommendation is a letter written by an expert to recommend a student for inclusion in a program. Think of it as party etiquette. If a person with good taste tells you to watch a particular movie or to try a certain restaurant, you’re more likely to trust them.

The same is true of a letter of recommendation. If a recommender is trusted by a committee and has good things to say about you, then they’re more likely to consider your application.

That sounds simple, but there is definitely an art to securing a good letter of recommendation .

On a basic level, letters of recommendation should come from someone who is respected by the committee, who knows you well, and who has seen your best. Don’t ask your English teacher to write a letter to recommend you to physical therapy school, because their word doesn’t carry as much weight in that program.

Also, don’t ask a prof to write you a letter if you earned a B or lower in their class, as they haven’t seen your best work.

To get a good letter, work to develop a relationship with a respected leader. This could be a science teacher in one of the required classes listed above or a licensed physical therapist with whom you’ve worked.

As with any relationship, it takes time and effort to connect with a potential recommender. Take several classes with them or volunteer in their practice. You want them to see everything you have to offer, so they can write eloquently about it in the letter.

Letters of recommendation can offset weaker parts of an application, so be sure to take them seriously. With some hard work and networking abilities, you can secure a letter that’s sure to make an impression.

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Although most applicants focus on GPA and test-scores, the personal statement is a very important component of your application and should be carefully composed. This is your opportunity to highlight things about yourself that may not be mentioned in other sections of your application and to distinguish yourself from other applicants.

You should have several different people objectively read your personal statement and provide constructive feedback. In addition to the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) , your letter writers are often a great option. There are also resources on campus that can assist you, such as the UH Writing Center , University Career Services , and your major advisor. Consider the feedback you receive carefully, but be sure that the personal statement is still written in your voice!

Below we have outlined some advice and general guidelines to consider while writing your personal statement. Keep in mind that these recommendations are not restricted to medical/dental applications, but can be applied while writing essays for any healthcare professional program.

See also UH University Career Services Personal Statement Tips
Sign up for the UH Writing Center Personal Statement Workshops

Types of Prompts

Before beginning your personal statement, it is important you carefully review the specific question (or prompt) that is being asked and the character-limit, as there can be distinct differences between the application services.

TMDSAS ( 5000 characters ):

Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.
Explain your motivation to seek a career in dentistry. You are asked to discuss your philosophy of the dental profession and indicate your goals relevant to the profession.
Personal Characteristics Essay - Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others. The personal characteristics essay is required to all applicants and limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.
Optional Essay – The optional essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. The essay is optional, however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Consider briefly discussing any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented. Optional Essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

AMCAS ( 5300 characters ):

Why have you selected the field of medicine?
What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
What do you want medical schools to know about you that has not been disclosed in other sections of the application?

AACOMAS ( 5300 characters ):

What motivates you to learn more about osteopathic medicine?

AADSAS ( 4500 characters ):

Explain a defining moment that helped steer you toward a career in dentistry. Consider using that moment as the focal point of your essay.
Be colorful, positive, imaginative and personal when discussing why you are a good candidate for dental school. Ask yourself—in a pile of 100 applications, would I enjoy reading my statement? Be sure to convey your passion for dentistry in your statement.
Be yourself. Don’t use jargon, clichés or big phrases that you would not use in daily conversation. Remember, dental schools want to know about the real you.
Be original and thoughtful: Discuss how you would contribute to the profession and patient care, all of which will help you stand out from other applicants.

AACPMAS (4500 characters):

State below why you are interested in becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. Provide information about your development for a career in Podiatric Medicine

CASPA (5000 characters):

In the space provided write a brief statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant.

OptomCAS (4500 characters) :

Essays can be customized for each individual Optometry program. Most Optometry schools include this as their main essay question:

Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career.

OTCAS (no character limit):

Your Personal Statement should address why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

PTCAS (4500 characters):

Prompt: Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that "help" others, please go beyond your initial interaction or experiences with physical therapy and share the deeper story that has confirmed your decision to specifically pursue physical therapy as your career.

PharmCAS (4500 characters):

Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career. How the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. You should describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

VMCAS (1000 characters):

There are many career choices within the veterinary What are your future career goals and why?
In what ways do veterinarians contribute to society and what do you hope to contribute?
Consider the breadth of society which veterinarians What attributes do you believe are essential to be successful within the veterinary profession? Of these attributes, which do you possess and how have you demonstrated these in the past?

When should I start writing?

You should begin working on your personal statement early in the spring semester prior to your intended application year and submitting your application materials to HPAC (if applicable). Remember that the people who are helping you with your statement will need time to review it and you will need time to work through multiple drafts before submission. In addition, some of your letter writers may want to see a copy of your personal statement before they write your letter, so you should strive to have a competent draft by mid-March.

What should be included?

It is important to treat the personal statement as an answer to a question (i.e., the prompt), rather than the opportunity to flex your creative writing muscles. Indeed, most applicants are STEM majors without much experience in creative writing; therefore, it is recommended that you avoid using the essay to practice your creative writing skills and stick to simply addressing the prompt in a direct, concise way. Some questions you may want to consider while planning your essay are:

Why have you selected the field of medicine, dentistry, or other health profession?
What motivates you to learn more about medicine, dentistry, or other health profession?
How have you demonstrated your interest and commitment to your decision?
What experiences have allowed you to develop the skills necessary to be successful in this program and to become an effective physician, dentist, PA, etc.?
Did you have any exposure to role models who influenced your decision? Which of their attributes inspired you?
Are your perceptions of this profession realistic?
What are your professional goals?
Is there anything you wish for your chosen health professional schools to know about you that has not been disclosed in other sections of the application?

Depending on the nature of the prompt, you may also wish to include information such as:

Unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

What should NOT be included?

Avoid clichés and over-using/mis-using terms : How many times do you think admissions committees have read the phrase, “I want to become a physician because I like science and I want to help people”? Similarly, words like empathy and passion are, while applicable, can become empty in meaning when overused or misused. Consider exemplifying these terms, rather than simply stating them.
Avoid unnecessary drama: While you may feel compelled to "hook" the reader with a dramatic opening to your statement, doing so may detract from the overall purpose (i.e., describing your decision to pursue medicine/dentistry) and may induce many an eye-roll by committee members.
Avoid being vague : "[Insert experience] was challenging and rewarding." What does that mean? Be specific about what was impactful and how it affected you.
Avoid brash decision-making : Your decision to become a doctor/dentist should be the result of a series of thoughtful, conscious, and reflective decisions. NOT an instantaneous realization or epiphany. Similarly, you have not “always known” that you want to be a physician/dentist. No one is "born to be a doctor." Nothing is innate, you have to work for it.
Avoid excuses : In general, there are better uses for your personal statement than explaining away and justifying poor grades, incidents of misconduct, etc. Indeed, TMDSAS offers additional essays and opportunities to discuss these issues. However, if you choose to address these subjects, be sure to focus on what you have learned from those incidents and how your experiences have made you a stronger person. Always accept responsibility and avoid blaming anyone else for your decisions or mistakes.
Avoid restating your resume or activities section : Choose ONE or TWO significant and distinguishing experiences to elaborate upon when outline the reasons behind your decision to pursue a career in healthcare. There is no need to narrate completely your 4+ years of college or carefully detail your activities from year to year; indeed, there are other sections in the application where you can detail your experiences and what you learned from each.
Avoid grandiosity : Claiming that you plan to cure cancer (or HIV, or healthcare disparities, or anything else) shows a grave lack of understanding of whatever problem you are planning to solve. Similarly, avoid “I know what it is like to be a physician/dentist from [shadowing/clinical volunteer experience].” No, you do not. That is precisely why you are hoping to go to medical/dental school.
Avoid inflammatory or controversial topics : You do not know the values, beliefs, and background of the committee member reading your essay. For these reasons, you are advised to avoid making any strong statements regarding politics, religion, and other polarizing topics. Be extremely cautious to avoid expressing any views that could be construed as derogatory to any group. Additionally, your beliefs are not the only “correct” beliefs.
Do not lie : Honesty and ethical behavior are the hallmarks of being a healthcare professional. Do not include details anywhere in your application or essay that you are not prepared to talk about or that are simply untrue.

Additional Recommendations

Use simple formatting : Avoid the use of bullet-points, italics, and symbols.
Read your statement aloud : As you draft your statement, reading what you have written aloud can help you determine whether your writing "flows" well and is an easy read for a reviewer.

Personal Statement Tips for Physiotherapy School Admissions

Student writing personal statement on a notepad in front of their laptop

Written by Anthony Pinto Da Costa

Admissions | applications, 0comment(s), october 1, 2021.

Of all the requirements for PT school in Canada , the personal statement is definitely one that raises the eyebrows of many applicants each and every year. The confusion is largely due to the ambiguity of piecing together a descriptive essay about yourself that conveys to admissions committees that you’re the right fit for their program.

Some of the common inquiries we hear with each passing application cycle include:

How do I write a good personal statement?
What do I need to include in my personal statement?
What do admissions committees want to hear?
How do I organize all of my thoughts into a brief but strong personal statement?

At PhysioSchool.ca, we hear you loud and clear. We had all of the same questions when we were applying, which is why we’re writing this blog today to answer your questions and provide you with some helpful tips on how to write your personal statement for physio school applications.

Here we go.

Tip #1 – Start early

We cannot stress this one enough. Start getting yourself “in the know” early, so that you can plan accordingly. Before putting pen to paper, you should first be able to answer the following questions:

Which PT programs require a personal statement?
What types of questions do various schools ask on their personal statement?
How long can my answers be (i.e., word/character count)?

Once you gather all of this information, you can start chipping away on mapping out the content you’d like to include within your personal statement.

Tip #2 – Genuinely ask yourself: “Why do I want to be a physiotherapist? “

It’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be asked, “why do you want to be a physiotherapist?” on a personal statement. Admissions committees are very interested in knowing your intent for choosing physiotherapy as a career. Why? Because they want to ensure that they’re admitting individuals who have made an informed career decision and are genuinely passionate about becoming a physiotherapist.

For that reason, we highly recommend sitting down with yourself to think hard about why you want to be a physiotherapist. And believe us, we understand that it’s not always a simple question to answer, as there may be many reasons why you want to pursue PT. We suggest that you write all of these reasons down in front of you. It will help give you clarity, and most importantly, it will help guide your entire personal statement. When you have a strong “why” from the beginning, writing your statement will come a lot easier. On the contrary, if your foundation isn’t solid, your personal statement may fall flat.

So, please! Ask yourself: “Why do I want to be a physiotherapist?”

Tip #3 – Write out a list of your experiences

Your personal statement is essentially your way of “selling yourself” to the admissions committees. Apart from providing them with a compelling reason as to why you want to be a PT, speaking about your work and volunteer experience can really help you impress those who make admissions decisions.

In order to make writing about your experiences a seamless process, we recommend first writing out a list of your work and volunteer experiences (PT- and non-PT-related experiences). Ensure to include what your role was during each experience, whether it was work or volunteer, the location, how long you were at each location, and the types of people you worked with. This will essentially function as your rough draft.

Once you have all of that information laid out in front of you, turn your rough draft into sentences to be used in your personal statement. Be sure to mention how these experiences will help you in becoming a good physiotherapist one day.

Tip #4 – Do your research on the physiotherapy profession

As mentioned earlier, PT school admissions committees aim to admit those who have made an informed career decision. That being said, it will bode well for you to convey that you are knowledgeable about the physiotherapy profession throughout your personal statement.

Having exposure in physiotherapy settings prior to applications will certainly help you out with that, but it would be in your best interest to also do your research on the profession. The PT profession is incredibly diverse; physiotherapists work in a variety of settings with a wide-range of patient populations. Given that, it’s important to become familiar with the profession at large in order to show the admissions committees that you understand what PT has to offer.

Tip #5 – Rigorously edit and revise your personal statement

This one’s a no-brainer. Once you think you have a finished product, you must rigorously edit and revise your personal statement. Do your very best to catch any spelling or grammatical errors, run-on sentences, redundancies, and any other issues you pick up on that may be problematic for your readers. The good thing about this is that you don’t have to do this alone! Reach out to any friends, family members, and/or mentors that you trust to proofread your essay as well. A second or third set of eyes may pick up on things that you missed, so it’s great to have some people in your corner to help with editing and revising.

We realize that this may be one of those tips that one can simply just gloss over, but in all seriousness, we cannot emphasize the importance of this one enough. Remember that the admissions committees don’t just judge what you say in your personal statement, but also how you say it. The applicants who can do both of those things very well are usually the ones that come out on top.

Writing a great personal statement for your physio school applications can be a challenging task. However, if you follow the tips that you read about in this blog post, you’ll eventually be able to muster up a personal statement that you can be proud of in no time.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Thank you for reading.

If you’re looking for extra help and guidance on writing your personal statement, check out our PT Application Booster course today! We have an entire module dedicated to helping you write a personal statement that will give you the competitive edge for physio school applications. What are you waiting for? Enrol today!

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Physical therapist personal statement

Reading time: 3 minutes
Price: Free download
Published: 23rd October 2021
Word count: 774 words
File format: Text

The first stage in my decision to pursue physical therapy goes back to my junior year in high school. I enrolled in an honors physiology course that was avoided my most of my peers. While I, too, was skeptical about taking the course out of fear that it might affect my GPA, my mother, who is an occupational therapist, assured that it will be a worthwhile investment. As always, she was right, and it was then, I developed a thirst for knowledge about the human body. Soon after the class, I grew an immense passion for studying the body’s structure and functions. I endeavored to learn the pieces of the puzzle and the theoretical aspect of movement, however, my passion pushed me to dive deeper. I wanted to learn how a person continues to function in the face of impairments and in what ways physical therapy can be employed to improve mobility. For these reasons, I took the initiative to better understand the profession by immersing myself into hospitals and clinics.

The diverse clinical experiences I gained while working with physical therapists allowed me to understand the physical therapy profession extensively. Witnessing their dedication to patient care by demonstrating empathy, altruism, accountability, and professional duty solidified my decision to become a physical therapist. I gained a new level of passion for the human experience, which propelled me toward constant improvement. Hence, I am determined to become a physical therapist who can use my passion to serve others and help each individual overcome his or her losses through the lens of human movement.

In order to become a physical therapist, I understand that it will require a tremendous amount of dedication throughout a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. In order to prepare myself for a rigorous DPT education, I have actively engaged in all of my challenging pre-requisite and liberal arts courses that my undergraduate institution offered. Additionally, I have strongly committed myself toward this career path by balancing an intense academic schedule with two jobs and a rich repertoire of extra-curricular activities that range from community service to getting involved with the athletic department. Despite the difficulties I encountered of applying myself to these commitments throughout each semester, I remained resilient by managing my time wisely.

The skills and knowledge I gained through my organizations have allowed me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses. As I mentioned earlier, time management was a key strength that allowed me to remain organized and complete assignments in advance for my academic and organizational commitments. In addition, my ability to remain empathetic in any difficult situation has allowed me to collaborate with people from different cultures. Although I utilize my strengths most of the time, I do have areas in which I need to improve on. When an outcome is not what I expect, I tend to get flustered, assuming I will not be able to accomplish my tasks. Despite these challenging situations, I learned through experience how to gradually overcome unexpected situations and become adaptive in various environments.

Overcoming weakness is difficult, but it was possible for me through my organizations that provided me with the opportunities to improve. In order to improve my adaptability, I took on multiple leadership positions that challenged me to face many unexpected situations and pushed me to make effective decisions. As the senior physical therapy aide at Ventura Orthopedics, I participated in quarterly staff meetings and was in charge of new aide training and education. In addition, I have exhibited leadership within the classroom by stimulating intelligent discussions amongst my peers during group research projects.

Furthermore, I hope to enroll in your DPT program because of the opportunities and environment that will optimize my learning to become an effective physical therapist. The opportunities your facility provides for physical therapy students to interact with other healthcare students is unlike any other and will prepare me as a professional in a variety of settings. Additionally, the easily accessible faculty members appeal to me because I will be able to learn about their experiences beyond the class setting. Most importantly, the 99% pass rate for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) shows the successful outcome of a great curriculum that will enable me to serve as a physical therapist as soon as I graduate.

As someone who is passionate about learning and the human experience, I hope to continue to pursue my dream of becoming a physical therapist at your institution and make a lasting impact on those around me. It would be a privilege to join a cohort of scholars that can carry on the great reputation you have created at your institution.

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Graduate School Personal Statement
How to Make/Create a Personal Statement for Grad School [Templates
Student Physical Therapist Resume Samples
Physiotherapy Personal Statement
How To Write A Good Personal Statement For Biomedical Science

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COMMENTS

How Do I Write My PTCAS Essay (Personal Statement)?
Each year, PTCAS sets a prompt for you to answer for the personal statement. You're given about one page, or 4,500 characters, to answer the PTCAS prompt. PTCAS Personal Statement prompts can vary in topics, but ultimately they touch on the physical therapy profession. It's important that you answer the PTCAS question in your essay.
Physical Therapy Personal Statement Examples
Sample#01. When I was a kid, I first heard the term " physical therapy .". My older cousin suffered from a brain aneurysm and then had to walk properly again through therapy. I had no idea what the science or profession was that was underlying the work. My only knowledge was that my relative was gradually recovering.
PT School Personal Statement Examples: a Quick Guide
Example 1: Example 2. Final Words. Your statement is your chance to "sell" yourself to the admissions committee. We have great PT school personal statement examples to inspire you in crafting your statement. We hope they provide a wealth of insights into the personal statement process and help you achieve admission to your dream PT school.
PDF Physical Therapy School Application Guide
They created the Physical Therapy Application guide below to help students understand how to get into PT School. Quick Reference: §Physical Therapy School Prerequisites. §The Best Major for Physical Therapy. §Observation & Shadowing Hours. §PT Letters of Recommendation. §Taking the GRE. §Write Your Personal Statement.
The Ultimate Guide to Writing PT School Application Essays
Unfortunately there isn't much information about physical therapy school essays. I found these resources for general essay writing, grad school essays, and med school essays, but they're mostly applicable to physical therapy school too! ... Tips and Myths Writing the Personal Statement for Medical School. Student Doctor Network Forums:
PTCAS: Personal Statement/Essays
2016-2017, 2017-2018: "What is professionalism in the context of being a student in a doctor of physical therapy program?" 2018-2019, 2019-2020 : "Describe a meaningful experience in your life. Reflect on how that experience influenced your personal growth, such as your attitudes or perceptions."
How to Write a Statement of Purpose
An important piece of the graduate school application is your statement of purpose, also called a "personal statement" or "letter of intent." Admissions committees will examine this to see if you're a good fit for their school. ... Physical Therapy To write a personal statement for a physical therapy program, make sure to write ...
5 Tips
Hi friends! Long time no personal statement post! PTCAS updated their essay for the 2020-2021 cycle, so I figured I'd give you guys my initial thoughts on the essay prompt and share a few tips to help you get started on crafting a winning essay!. PTCAS Essay Prompt: Every person has a story that has led them to a career.Since there are a variety of health professions that "help" others ...
How to Write Your Personal Statement
A personal statement is a short essay of around 500-1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you're applying. To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application, don't just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to ...
PDF WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT
PTCAS (Physical Therapy): "Reflect on a meaningful experience in your life and share how that experience influenced your personal growth, such as your attitudes or perceptions." - 4,500 characters PharmCAS (Pharmacy): "Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career; how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
PTCAS Personal Statement Prompt 2021-2022
PTCAS Personal Statement Prompt 2021-2022. If you're applying for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program for the 2021-2022 cycle, you're in the right place. This year's prompt matches last year's prompt which is: Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that "help" others ...
How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School
The personal statement is a way of marketing yourself to the school as a potential candidate. A comprehensive approach is an essay about what makes you the right candidate for the program. The other option is to answer specific questions. A graduate school often asks questions you can answer on your personal statement. Writing a Draft
Resources
Personal Statements. The personal statement is a narrative that allows you to tell the admissions committee more about who you are using a central theme or thesis. It is an opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants and allows the reader to get to know you beyond your grades, test scores, and resume. Adds a "human element".
Writing Personal Statements
Personal statements sent directly to schools not participating with an application service should include a brief discussion of your interest in the school and its program. Maximum characters by application service: ... Physical Therapy: PTCAS: 4,500: Physician Assistant: CASPA: 5,000: Podiatry DPM: AACPMAS: 4,500: Public Health: SOPHAS: 1,500 ...
PDF Graduate School Applications Sample Personal Statement
Sample Personal Statement. During my freshman and sophomore years at University A, I worked as a physical therapy assistant on a voluntary, part-time basis at Medical Center B in Hometown, State. In the course of this experience, the most important conversation I had relevant to my career goal as a physician was with a nurse.
3 Successful Graduate School Personal Statement Examples
Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3. PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 - Public Health. This is my successful personal statement for Columbia's Master's program in Public Health. We'll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I'll highlight a couple of things that ...
Drafting Your Personal Statement
Drafting Your Personal Statement. Your personal statement is about selling yourself to the admissions committee. You should begin with reflecting on your values, your best qualities, what you are passionate about, what's important to you, and how all of that has led you down the path to this career. You will need to identify activities or ...
Physical Therapy School Requirements
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Requirements. Because physical therapy school is fundamentally a graduate school, most programs require scores from a standardized test. Namely, they want results from the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations), a test standard for graduate school applications. Although some institutions require GRE subject tests ...
Personal Statements
Your Personal Statement should address why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals. PTCAS (4500 characters):
Personal Statement Tips for Physiotherapy School Admissions
Tip #4 - Do your research on the physiotherapy profession. As mentioned earlier, PT school admissions committees aim to admit those who have made an informed career decision. That being said, it will bode well for you to convey that you are knowledgeable about the physiotherapy profession throughout your personal statement. Having exposure in ...
Physical therapist personal statement
Preview: The first stage in my decision to pursue physical therapy goes back to my junior year in high school. I enrolled in an honors physiology course that was avoided my most of my peers. While I, too, was skeptical about taking the course out of fear that it might affect my GPA, my mother, who is an occupational therapist, assured that it will be a worthwhile investment.
PDF Writing a Personal Statement that Sells
1-2 page, single-spaced narrative in telling why you go into a profession you've (Check with centralized on character/word. personality. your values and goals. Highlights your strengths and sometimes acknowledges short-comings. Explains your fit and readiness for and understanding of the profession. Sets you apart from other applicants.

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Physical Therapy Personal Statement Examples

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1) Select An Expertise

2) Describe How Your Life Has Changed As a Result Of The Experience

3) How Will This Experience Influence Your Future Career as a Physical Therapist?

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PTCAS Essay 2020-2021/2021-2022/2022-2023: Initial Thoughts + 5 Tips

1. Answer the prompt, period.

2. Wanting to “help others” is not enough.

3. What is your s tory?

4. Make sure your essay has structure.

5. Show, don’t tell!

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School

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Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose

How To Create Your Personal Statement

Creating a Style for Your Statement

Writing a Draft

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Make It a Story

Avoid Some Topics

Research the School

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Personal Statements

What is Your Brand?

Drafting Your Personal Statement

Tips for Writing Your Statement

Accessibility Tools

What is a personal statement?

What should I include in my personal statement?

Discuss WHY you are interested in the chosen profession

Consider discussing individuals or incidents that have shaped your life

ELABORATE upon extracurricular activities and/or volunteer/work experiences that you have listed elsewhere in the application

Consider personal qualities that have been developed and/or enhanced through such involvement

Use this as an opportunity to answer any perceived questions

Many students wish to write about their personal philosophy

Non-traditional background

What format should I use?

Personal Inventory Questions

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